Fission-Fueled Nucleoid Dispersion, a Novel Mitochondrial Metabolic Activation Mechanism
Jeongah Kim
Abstract
Local regulation of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcription within the mitochondria contributes to regulate the respiratory activity by sensing the nucleoid distribution.This is a new regulatory respiratory function within the mitochondria.Moreover, the coordination of mitochondrial fission and nucleoid trafficking, mediated by dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 3A (ATAD3A), regulates the nucleoid distribution.However, defects in the Drp1-mediated fission results in low electron transport chain (ETC) formation due to the low transcription of the mtDNA, while the ATAD3A-mediated nucleoid dispersion led to high ETC formation due to the high transcription of the mtDNA.Additionally, the Drp1-MFF-ATAD3A-nucleoid cascade mediates the communication between the cytosolic mitochondrial fission and mitochondrial matrix nucleoid function.MFF, mitochondrial fission factor.